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How To Take Screenshots On Android

Taking screenshots can be quite handy if you’re an Android user and I believe taking screenshots should be one of the first things that Android users should learn right after buying their Android phones. Whether you’ve been using the Android OS for several years or you just purchased your new Android device, I’ll show you how you can easily take screenshots on your Android phone or tablet.

I’ll not only show you the default universal method for how to take screenshots on Android, but I’ll also tell you about a third-party screenshot taking app if you’re looking for something extra.

Why Take Screenshots?

There can be several instances when screenshots can be quite helpful.

Share your high score from a game with your friends.

If your parents are having a problem using their Android phone, you can use screenshots to help them while you’re away.

Writers like myself can use screenshots for their articles.

You can use screenshots to share anything that you’re doing on your Android phone, such as Facebook statuses, news and web pages.

Method 1: Button Combination

The first method focuses on using a simple button combination for taking screenshots and you’ll be able to capture the screenshot in just a couple of seconds. The method is as simple as pressing just two buttons on your Android device.

The button combination should work with most Android smartphones and tablets and this is the only universal screenshot taking method. If you’re interested in something more than just taking screenshots, such as a built-in editor and various triggers, then you should try a third-party app from the Google Play Store.

Step 1

Go to the screen that you want to capture. For instance, if you want to capture your high score, launch the game and go to the high score screen.

Step 2

Press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously. Don’t release the buttons until you see a notification on the screen or hear a camera shutter sound. On several Samsung smartphones, such as the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5, you need to hold the Home and Power buttons simultaneously. That’s it! You have successfully taken a screenshot on your Android device.

Step 3

View the screenshot from your notifications panel or through the Gallery app.

Method 2: Power Menu

This is another easy method for taking screenshots on Android smartphones and tablets. However, this is only available on certain Android devices. There is a special screenshot option in the power menu and when you press it, the screenshot is captured instantly.

Step 1

Go to the screen that you want to capture.

Step 2

Hold the Power key to bring up the menu.

Step 3

Tap on Screenshot or Take screenshot. That’s it! You have successfully captured a screenshot and you can view it from your Gallery app or through the notifications panel.

Method 3: Screenshot Ultimate

This method focuses on a third-party app from the Google Play Store for taking screenshots. The first two methods are definitely the easiest and most reliable ways of taking screenshots on Android, but if you’re looking for something extra, then Screenshot Ultimate might be the perfect app.

The app supports over 16 different triggers for capturing screenshots, including shaking the device, pressing the camera button and using a custom shortcut. Aside from that, Screenshot Ultimate also brings a complete image editor with features like mirror, rotate and crop. You can also select the screenshot saving directory and the image format.

Step 1

Download and install the Screenshot Ultimate app on your Android phone or tablet. You can get the app through the Google Play button below.

Step 2

Launch the app, tap on Triggers and select your desired triggers. You can select various triggers at once.

Step 3

Go to Settings and edit the image format, name and the directory for saving the screenshots.

Step 4

Go to the screen that you want to capture and use your selected trigger method. For instance, shake your Android phone if you selected the Shake trigger. That’s it!

Step 5

View the screenshot or edit it through Screenshot Ultimate’s built-in editor.

Conclusion

Taking screenshots is one of my favorite features on the Android operating system and you can take screenshots to do all sorts of things. If you’re looking for a simple and effective method for taking screenshots, then Method 1 and Method 2 are perfect. If you’re looking for something more, then you should try out Screenshot Ultimate.

On certain Samsung devices, you can even take screenshots using gestures. Feel free to read my guide on taking screenshots on the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy S5 if you want to take screenshots using gestures. Make sure that you follow all the instructions properly and feel free to ask any questions on how to take screenshots on Android in the comments section below.